Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-14

TOO wide q scope IL apparently attributed BY
some OF our contemporaries 70 the address to the
people Of the United states proposed TO be framed
by the Citizens Committee. Its purpose, as dis
closed by the terms or the resolution authorizing
It's consideration in committee is not to deal with
the material condition OF the District or to correct
false accusations OF maladnnistration against the
District authorities, as has been suggested but to
set forth the correlation of the people Of this Dis
trfct, our municipal authorities and the Congress"
Needed Information concerning the peculiar legal
and reciprocal relation of District and Nation is to
be placed before the generalpublic Callmnies upon
the District and It's government, based upon the ac-
eusation Of specific acts doubtless circulate In
jurfously outside of Washington because explana-
tons or denials are not received or understood,
but the proposed address IS not intended TO re-
medy and Will not remedy that evil. Consldera-
ton also seems to be limited % the present legal
status OF the District and there Is apparently no
room under the terms OF the resolution TO the
suggestion of a wr1tern the CdpitdI and TO extend
the inquiry 80 as to cover the question or how far
the relations which now exist VIII be endurable In
the future,-for instance, when the eity's popula-
ton Is a million. IT, however, the subcommittee
should venture beyond statement or appropriate
present facts for popular instruction, and should
include the future In Its consideration OF the rea
lions Of the District to the National Government,
and especially II It should formulate policy in
be attempted to commit the Citizens Committee,
that organization would at once be hurried into
discussion OF the most delicate and important
problem with which t can possibly deal. After
INFINITE labor the National Government has been
induced to meet to q considerable extent the
financial obligations which fall upon 1t as guard
Ian OF the District and the untaxed owner OF one
half OF District property. Some economical MEN,
Ders OF Congress are already lying In wait for an
opportunity to urge that the nation sh1rk these
obligations. They would not assent to an amend
ment OF the Constitution which would
give washingtonians all the rights OF
American citizens but, In order TO dis
TURF the present financial relations OF
Nation and District they would gladly change
the form OF government and give the District
sham right Of suffrage, valueless so long as the
constitution is In its present shape, and undesr-
able 50 far as the selection OF purely municipal
officers In cities is concerned THE STAR confidently
expects that before this city contains million
Inhabitants the constitution or the United States
win be amended, and that substantial rights as
American citizens win be granted the residents
Of the District, without, however, altering ma
terialiy the legal and financial relations of Nation
and Capital Until such amendment can be ef-
fected It Will be important for the District not to
be tempted by the profYer Of suffrage in purely
municipal affairs to sacrifice the just benefit Of
the participation OF the national government in
meeting the expenses OF making and maintaining
a national city. The meat should not be dropped
In swapping at q shadow.